On 27 Jan 2019, a Piper PA22 150 was involved in an aviation accident near Anchorage, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's overcorrection with rudder during the landing and her subsequent failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a runway excursion, impact with a snowbank, and a nose-over. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A student pilot on her first solo flight overcorrected with left rudder after the airplane slid right during a touch-and-go, causing it to exit the runway and nose over after hitting a snowbank.
Incident Overview
A student pilot was conducting her first solo flight when, during the second touch-and-go landing, the airplane began to slide to the right shortly after touchdown. The pilot applied what she described as "excessive" left rudder to correct the slide, but the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. It subsequently struck a snowbank and nosed over, coming to rest inverted.
Aircraft Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage as a result of the impact with the snowbank and the nose-over. No other damage was reported.
Pilot Report
The student pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. She attributed the sequence of events to her own overcorrection during the landing roll.
Contributing factors
Causes
Directional control — Not attained/maintainedStudent/instructed pilotIncorrect use/operation